US: No sign Russia helping to ease Ukraine fight

WASHINGTON - The United States says there's been "no shred of evidence" that Russia is willing to help end the violence and bloodshed between the Ukraine separatists backed by Moscow and the government in Kiev.

Secretary of State John Kerry issued a new warning Tuesday that the U.S. and European Union are prepared to slap additional sanctions on Russia if it continues to ship weapons, funds and fighters across its border to support the separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Kerry says he spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Tuesday morning about what he described as specific proposals to ease the violence.

Kerry spoke after a State Department meeting with Ukraine Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin, who noted the U.S. commitment and solidarity for Kiev.